ComEd’s Unwavering Dedication to Environment Makes Earth Day Every Day
April 19, 2024
In a world where climate change is ever-present, protecting the planet is a responsibility shared by all. While Earth Day serves as a reminder of the importance of environmental stewardship, there are actions organizations and individuals can take each day to combat climate change and protect the planet.
ComEd is committed to environmental stewardship not just on Earth Day, but every day. ComEd is tackling environmental challenges head-on through a variety of corporate and community initiatives – such as programs to protect local ecosystems and to help customers take action to ensure a cleaner and brighter future.
ENHANCING AIR QUALITY
Air Quality Monitoring: To help communities identify areas with high concentrations of air pollutants and develop programs to mitigate their negative effects, ComEd recently launched the first phase of an online air quality portal with Aclima, a climate technology leader specializing in air quality and greenhouse gas mapping and analysis. This groundbreaking initiative to enhance air quality awareness focuses on hyperlocal monitoring and is the first of its kind in Illinois.
Idling Reduction: Reducing vehicle idling can lower greenhouse gas emissions and enhance air quality. ComEd is leading by example on the emissions reductions front – working to curb vehicle idling in our own fleet.
Solutions for idling reduction include shutting off a vehicle when stationary and installing devices that provide power without the engine for vocational or long-haul trucks.
100% Clean Facilities: ComEd is stepping up as a resource and model of how to achieve a cleaner, more sustainable future to run on 100% clean energy sources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote cleaner air for communities. As of January 2023, ComEd’s entire real estate portfolio is powered with 100% carbon-free energy generated mostly in ComEd’s service territory.
To learn more about ComEd’s commitment to the environment and various programs ComEd has in place to make a measurable difference in northern Illinois, visit ComEd.com/Environment.
PROTECTING LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS
Pollinator Preservation: ComEd actively supports pollinator habitats by planting native flowers and reducing pesticide use in their utility corridors and rights-of-way. Pollinators, including bees and butterflies, are essential for the reproduction of flowering plants, including many food crops, making their preservation crucial for ecosystem health. ComEd actively supports national efforts to assist with the recovery of the Monarch butterfly and other pollinators by increasing the area of pollinator habitat on the local landscape.
Avian Protection & Management Program: In collaboration with local conservation organizations, ComEd works to conserve and protect local bird populations. In place for over ten years, ComEd’s Avian Protection and Management Program is an industry-leading effort to reduce bird injuries and fatalities and improve system reliability. Methods to reduce interactions with our system include retrofitting poles in close proximity to eagle and osprey nests and installing bird diverters on power lines.
Prairie Restoration: ComEd invests in prairie restoration to preserve biodiversity and sequester carbon, contributing to the health of local ecosystems and combating climate change. ComEd maintains more than 40 prairie sites encompassing over 500 acres of prairie and pollinator habitat. Prairies are rich in biodiversity and act as natural carbon sinks, absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in soil and plant biomass.
PROMOTING A CLEANER MORE EQUITABLE FUTURE
ComEd empowers customers to join the cause by taking the following actions to embrace clean technologies and save energy.
Supporting Transportation Electrification: Earlier this year, for the first time, ComEd launched EV rebates to remove barriers for residential, business, and public-sector customers looking to make the switch. These rebates help offset the cost of purchasing and installing EV chargers for residential customers and help offset the cost of fleet vehicle purchases and infrastructure required to Ready sites for EV charging installation.
To broaden EV access across our communities, more than half of the funds are reserved for equity-eligible customers and communities, ensuring the journey to lower carbon future includes us all.
Helping Customers Save Money at Home: Through offerings such as ComEd’s home energy assessments, customers can receive an evaluation of their homes to identify opportunities to reduce energy consumption, save money and lower carbon emissions. By installing ENERGY STAR-certified appliances, and implementing other energy-saving measures, customers can actively participate in the fight against climate change.
Discover ways you can make an impact on the environment and save money through energy efficient choices at ComEd.com/Waystosave.
